The Right Way to Wear Makeup For Your Eye Shape

For makeup that gives you that je-ne-sais-quoi, listen to the pros and tailor your look to your eye shape. Brushes ready!

For makeup that gives you that je-ne-sais-quoi, listen to the pros and tailor your look to your eye shape. Brushes ready!

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Almond

As Sofia Vergara’s bold look shows, almond eyes can do just about anything. “To make them appear larger, apply a highlighter at the base of the lid and a darker shade both slightly above the crease and on the outside corners of the eyes to add depth,” says Taylor Babaian, makeup artist for stars such as Elisabeth Moss and Mariah Carey. She recommends Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Truffle ($18.50).

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Oval or prominent

“Oval and prominent eyes are very versatile,” says celebrity makeup artist Sally Wang, who has worked with stars like Michelle Williams and Jada Pinkett Smith. “Cream eyeshadow pencils—I like Covergirl’s Flamed Out Shadow Pencils ($5.99)—are great for super-easy, fast application.” Take a note from Kerry Washington and create a smoky eye with liner on the waterline (the name for the area above the root of the lashes) to add a bit of sultriness. Wang recommends Lancôme Artliner 24H ($30). If an all-black smoky look is too harsh for you, opt for khaki or gray tones, like Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres in Mystère, Prélude, Smoky Eyes, or Raffinement ($59 each).

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Downturned

Katie Holmes’s thick lashes and light eyeshadow create a lifting effect. “A good trick is to stop eyeshadow three quarters of the way out, before the eye starts to turn down,” says makeup arist Evy Drew, who has worked with Ana Gasteyer. Use a thicker brush, like Make Up For Ever 236 Large Precision Blender Brush ($31), to apply shadow. This lets you blend upward more easily, which will de-emphasize the eyes’ downward slope. “Then angle your eyeliner up at the end a bit.” Try long-lasting L’Oréal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner ($8.48).

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Wide-set

Miranda Kerr's simple liner just skims the outer edges of her eyes, which is the ideal makeup boundary on wide-set eyes. Generally, color should be concentrated in the center of the lid, though the spacing of the eyes means you can get away with applying darker shadows close to the tear ducts for a more dramatic look. For a simpler but still striking effect, Wang recommends Tarte Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad ($22).

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Close-set

“With close-set eyes, you want to draw focus away from the center,” says Wang. Sarah Jessica Parker’s liner works because it’s heaviest on the outer edges of her eyes. For more of a daytime look, however, it’s best to avoid any dark colors near the tear ducts. On close-set eyes, Babaian relies on the three-quarter rule of starting color application one quarter of the way out from eyes’ innermost edges. She then lightly applies a dab of highlighter, like Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer ($28), in the inner corners of the eyes and just under the brow bones.

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Deep-set

If you look closely enough at Mindy Kaling’s eyes, you’ll notice a layer of shimmery shadow toward their inner corners and very little color elsewhere. For deep-set eyes like the comedian’s, it’s best to keep shadows light, both in color and application. “Go shiny with peach and beige tones,” says Drew. And instead of applying dark shadow in the crease, contour by sweeping a neutral matte color onto the brow bone. For darker skin tones like Kaling’s, we like M.A.C Eye Shadow in Brun ($15).

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Hooded eyelids

Fans of House of Cards know that Robin Wright’s character usually wears little more on her eyes than a splash of mascara. “Lashes are a great way to lift and open hooded eyes,” says Drew. “Apply a thick liner on the outside corners above the lashes, then curl fringe and brush on waterproof mascara.” For extra lift, add a pair of false half-lashes, such as Taylor Babaian’s Kre-at ($15), to the outer edges. As for shadow, apply only above the crease and preempt with Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24).

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Small

Rashida Jones’s eyes appear much bigger than they really are, in part because of the way her shadow has been applied. “Concentrate shadow on both top and bottom lash lines to put thin eyes into proportion,” says Wang. This way, narrow eyes garner greater attention on the face. Want even more pop? Brighten the face around the eyes. Wang begins with a concealer base—she likes La Prairie Anti-Aging Eye & Lips Perfection à Porter ($150)—to eliminate puffiness and dark circles. Afterward, add a light-reflecting shadow, such as Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Grège #734 ($60), extending across the lid and toward the tear ducts.

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No crease

While a smoky eye is often the go-to look, strong liner and heavy lashes can create a stunning effect on Asian features. “Have fun with liner on the top lid," say Drew. "Curl lashes and apply lots of mascara." As for shadow? "Just a sweep of matte or shimmer powder looks great." Re-create model Liu Wen’s subtle cat eyes, or go for a bolder look with Shiseido Accentuating Cream Eyeliner ($26).

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